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Bad Breath
Provided by Colgate
Halitosis simply means bad breath, a problem that many people experience at one time or another. It is estimated that 40% of the population suffers from chronic halitosis at some time.
Many things can cause bad breath, including:
How Do I Know if I Have Halitosis?
One way to test if you have bad breath is to cover your mouth and nose with your hand, exhale, and smell your breath. Another way is to ask someone you trust whether or not your breath smells bad. Keep in mind that many people experience "morning breath," which is the result of reduced saliva flow during sleep that allows acids and other debris to putrefy in the mouth. Brushing and flossing thoroughly before bed, and brushing your teeth and tonguefirst thing in the morning, will usually eliminate morning breath.
How Can I Help Prevent Halitosis?
In addition to avoiding foods that cause bad breath, you can reduce the chancesof bad breath by:
If you have persistent bad breath that is not improved with brushing and flossing, see your dentist for a thorough dental examination as this could indicate a more serious problem. Only a dentist can tell if you have gum disease, dry mouth or excess plaque buildup as a possible cause of bad breath.